Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports lease credit approvals finished 2015 exactly at the 70.0% mark, squarely in line with what the company feels is a “healthy” rate of approvals. 

November and December lease credit approvals slipped slightly, bringing the moving twelve-month approvals average down from a high of 77.9% back in August. Despite the end-of-year downswing, lease approvals during 2015 mirrored the broader automotive industry with rising lease credit approvals compared with previous years. The lease credit approvals rate finished at 69.0% in 2014.

Interestingly enough, the approvals rate for December, 2014, saw lowered numbers as well, with just 60.9% of car shoppers gaining approval to take over a leased vehicle.

The end-of-year downshift also mirrored the broader economy’s trend for growth in consumer borrowing. Outstanding consumer credit rose by a revised annual rate of 4.8% during November, its slowest pace since January and a drop from the 9.9% notched in September, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

“For what could be a variety of reasons, lease credit approvals have slowed down at year end over the last few years,” said Scot Hall, Executive Vice President of Swapalease.com. “Looking ahead into the spring, it will be interesting to see if we experience the same level of monthly volatility as we have the past few years.” 

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Swapalease.com is the world’s largest automotive lease marketplace and the pioneer in facilitating lease transfers online. More specifically Swapalease.com matches individuals who want to get out of their lease with people who are looking for short-term lease agreements. Prospective buyers can search the listings for the exact vehicle they want, and then register for a nominal fee, allowing them to use Swapalease.com’s safe online system to contact the prospective seller and close the